Chonburi’s disabled athletes did the region proud by finishing top of the medals table at the recently completed 29th National Games for People with Disabilities.
Mirroring the National Games, held at the back end of last year, Chonburi was also the host for the disabled games held from January 23-27, and the home athletes achieved unparalleled success, winning 106 gold medals, 78 silver and 80 bronze medals for a total of 264 in all.
Wichit Chatpaisit, the Governor of Chonburi, summarizes the sports competition results during the closing ceremony.
Coming in second place was the Bangkok Sports Association, receiving 90 gold medals, 53 silver and 38 bronze medals (a total of 181), and in third was the Nonthaburi Sports Association team who garnered 64 gold medals, 57 silver and 42 bronze, for a total of 163 medals.
These three teams were trailed in next by the Pathumthani Sports Association (63 medals) and the Lopburi Sports Association (56 medals) respectively.
The athletes took part in some 17 different sporting disciplines and teams from 67 Provincial Sports Associations from all over the country took part.
The final closing ceremony was held on January 27 at the National Eastern Region Indoor Stadium in Pattaya and was attended by Dhiravat Sirivansant (Assistant Minister of Tourism and Sports) who oversaw the handing over of the Games flag to representatives from Khon Kaen for the 30th edition to be held next year.
Kanokpan Julkasem (Director of the Sports Authority of Thailand) offered congratulations to all the competing athletes and praised the Chonburi inhabitants and organizers for doing such a sterling job in hosting a very successful event.
As well as song and dance routines and a parade of athletes representing all the competing regions, one particular highlight of the closing ceremony was a live song without music, “Hua Jai Puk Kan”, led by Jenjira Suksud (with a fabulous singing voice) from the Karunyawet Welfare House for People with Disabilities. The flame was slowly extinguished as the song ended in a fitting way to end a tremendously successful event for the Chonburi region.
The Khon Kaen Province representatives join the closing parade as the host of the 30th Games for people with disabilities, to be held next year.
Competitors take part in the shooting event.
The archery competition was held at the Public Park in front of the National Eastern Indoor Stadium in Pattaya.
A keenly contested basketball match.
Blind Futsal was a new event introduced at these games.
Action at the games swimming pool.
A runner heads for the finish line and gold medal glory.
Athletes take part in the wheelchair sprints.
Jenjira Suksud sings “Hua Jai Puk Kan” as the games torch is slowly extinguished to officially close the competition.
Chonburi’s Peerapong Bungbok, seated center, celebrates his gold medal success in the Men’s R1 Air Rifle category.
